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*The Jamaica Film Commission is looking to multiply the production of high quality Jamaican content in film and television that can be successful internationally.

Film Commissioner and Manager of Creative Industries at Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Carole Beckford, says the 2015 film festival is in hopes of making partnerships, both local and international.

For the Jamaica Film Festival, scheduled for July 7 to 11 in Kingston, the main goal is to “create a connection between the writers, the producers, the directors, and getting actors content,” says Beckford. Beckford along with JAMPRO and JFC are looking to attract local and international investors in partnering and backing the local film industry; encouraging more local productions and showcasing Jamaican content; and escalating sales and distribution of local film and TV content.

The festival is just another opportunity to get Jamaica on the map aside from its’ beautiful beaches and great shooting locations.

“We have great content producers in Jamaica who need distribution outlets and that is the major pull right now,” Beckford says is why the festival came to Hollywood. “We just want to expose out content creatures and have more international stories.”

Local talents in scriptwriting, directing, producing and acting will have the opportunity to showcase their craft to the world during the film festival. Beckford states that they will be “premiering 15 projects in Jamaica, but there is an international call that’s out.”

Open for just one week, there is an open call for submissions at http://filmjamaica.com/ for those who would like to present works that embody Jamaica. According to Beckford there have been 80 entries so far.

The Jamaica Film Festival is planned to open Tuesday night (July 7) with a Grand Gala and end Saturday, July 11 with a celebration and awards ceremony. The interesting thing about this film festival will be Friday’s music day in partnership with Tuff Gong International, which was founded by Jamaican Superstar Bob Marley in 1965. Carole Beckford says that music day will include a “look at all the videos that were submitted with a barrage of music being played throughout Kingston.”

Source: http://www.eurweb.com/2015/03/carole-beckford-jamaica-film-festival-seek-hollywood-partnerships/

Published Date: March 12th, 2015